Tim Tebow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tim Tebow

Tebow with the Denver Broncos in 2012
No. 15
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1987-08-14) August 14, 1987 (age 37) Makati, Philippines
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:	Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)
College:	Florida (2006–2009)
NFL Draft:	2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25
Career history
Denver Broncos (2010) New York Jets (2012) New England Patriots (2013)* Philadelphia Eagles (2015)* Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)*
Career highlights and awards
2× BCS national champion (2006, 2008) BCS National Championship Game MVP (2008) Heisman Trophy (2007) 2× Maxwell Award (2007, 2008) Davey O'Brien Award (2007) William V. Campbell Trophy (2009) James E. Sullivan Award (2007) Manning Award (2008) Wuerffel Trophy (2008) AP College Football Player of the Year (2007) SN Player of the Year (2007) Chic Harley Award (2007) Quarterback of the Year (2007) Consensus All-American (2007) Second-team All-American (2009) 2× SEC Male Athlete of the Year (2008, 2009) 2× SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2009) 3× First-team All-SEC (2007–2009) Florida Football Ring of Honor (2018)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 361 Passing completions: 173 Completion percentage: 47.9% TD–INT: 17–9 Passing yards: 2,422 Passer rating: 75.3 Rushing yards: 989 Rushing touchdowns: 12
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Timothy Richard Tebow (born August 14, 1987) is a famous American athlete. He played as a quarterback in American football for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for his time with the Denver Broncos.

Tebow played college football for the Florida Gators. He was the first player in his second year of college to win the Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the best college football player. He also helped his team win two national championships in 2006 and 2008. After college, the Broncos picked him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

In 2011, Tebow became the Broncos' starting quarterback. He helped a struggling team win their division and a playoff game. He was known for his amazing comeback wins and his strong Christian faith. His habit of kneeling to pray on the field became known as "Tebowing." After his time in the NFL, Tebow played Minor League Baseball for the New York Mets from 2016 to 2021. He also works as a college football analyst for ESPN. In 2023, he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Football

Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines. His American parents, Pamela and Robert, were missionaries there. When Tim was three years old, his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. He is the youngest of five children.

Tim and his siblings were all taught at home by their parents. Their parents taught them strong Christian beliefs. Tim has dyslexia, which means he learns differently. He believes this is a special gift.

He started playing high school football as a tight end. But he moved to Allen D. Nease High School to play quarterback. Even though he didn't attend the school, Florida law allowed homeschooled students to play for their local high school teams.

Tebow became very well known in his junior year. People admired his running and throwing skills. He was also very competitive. In one game, he broke a bone in his leg but kept playing! He even rushed for a touchdown with the injury. He was named Florida's Player of the Year.

In his senior year, he led his team, the Nease Panthers, to a state championship. He was named Florida's Mr. Football. He also played in a special game with the best high school players in the country.

ESPN made a documentary about him called "Tim Tebow: The Chosen One." It showed his homeschooling, missionary work, and football talent. He was also featured in Sports Illustrated.

Homeschooling and Sports

In 2007, ESPN talked about Tim Tebow and other homeschooled athletes. They discussed how important it is for homeschooled students to play high school sports. Tim was the first homeschooled athlete to be nominated for the Heisman Trophy. He said it was an honor to show that homeschooled kids can be athletic too.

College Football Career

Many colleges wanted Tim Tebow to play for them. He chose to go to the University of Florida and play for the Florida Gators. He was a key player when the Gators won the national championship in 2006. In 2007, he became the starting quarterback and won the Heisman Trophy. He led the Gators to another championship in 2008.

He was the team captain in 2008 and 2009. He is the only player to win the Gators' most valuable player award three times.

2006 Season: A Strong Start

Tim Tebow started his college career as a backup quarterback. But he still played an important role. In his first college game, he scored a touchdown on his very first play! He also led the team in rushing yards in another game.

His best game that year was against LSU. He scored all three of the Gators' touchdowns, two by passing and one by running. He also helped the Gators win the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. He scored one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown in that big game.

2007 Season: Heisman Winner

Tebow warming up

Tebow became the starting quarterback for the 2007 season. He had an amazing year! He set many records for his school and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He set the SEC record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 20. He also set a career high with 5 rushing touchdowns in one game.

He led the SEC in how many passes he completed and how many rushing touchdowns he scored. After the season, he was named a first-team All-American. He also won the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the best college football player. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award for the best quarterback.

Winning the Heisman Trophy

Tebow in 2007

On December 8, 2007, Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy. He was the first player in his second year of college to win this award. He became the third Florida player to win the Heisman. He was also the only player in college football history to both run and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in the same season.

2008 Season: The Promise and Another Championship

Before the 2008 season, Tebow had surgery on his shoulder. His coach planned to use two quarterbacks to help Tebow.

In September 2008, the Gators lost a game they were expected to win. After the game, Tebow gave a famous speech known as "The Promise." He apologized for the loss and promised his team would work harder. He kept his promise! The Gators did not lose another game that season.

He broke the school record for career rushing touchdowns. He led the Gators to a 12–1 record. They won the SEC Championship Game and then beat Oklahoma in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.

In January 2009, Tebow announced he would return for his senior season.

2009 Season: Senior Year

Tebow continued to play well in his senior year. In one game, he played despite being sick. He ran for two touchdowns, breaking another SEC career record. Later, he got a concussion during a game. He was taken to the hospital but was okay. He played again two weeks later.

His last college game was the 2010 Sugar Bowl. He played incredibly well, completing 31 of 35 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He set a record for total yards in a Bowl Championship Series game. He graduated from the University of Florida in December 2009.

College Records

By the end of his college career, Tim Tebow held many records. He had 5 NCAA records, 14 SEC records, and 28 University of Florida records. He was the SEC's all-time leader in career passing efficiency and rushing touchdowns by any player.

The "Tebow Rule"

In 2010, a new rule for college football banned messages on eye paint. This rule was called "The Tebow Rule" by the media.

During his college career, Tebow often wrote Bible verses on his eye black. In one championship game, he wore "John 3:16." This caused millions of people to search for that Bible verse online. Tebow said this showed the big influence athletes can have.

The NCAA said the rule was not just about Tebow. Other players also wore messages. The rule was meant to keep eye black for its main purpose: to block the sun. The NFL already had a similar rule.

Professional Football Career

After college, Tebow entered the 2010 NFL draft. Some experts thought he would be a great NFL quarterback. Others were not so sure.

Denver Broncos

Tebow during warm-ups with the Denver Broncos in 2010

The Denver Broncos picked Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He quickly became very popular. His jersey was the best-selling in the NFL.

In October 2010, Tebow scored his first NFL touchdown. In November, he threw his first NFL touchdown pass. He also rushed for a touchdown in that game.

Tebow started his first NFL game in December 2010. He rushed for a 40-yard touchdown, which was the longest for a quarterback in Broncos history. His first NFL win came in his second start. He helped the Broncos come back from a 17–0 deficit to win 24–23.

He finished his first season with 654 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. He also rushed for 227 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in each of his first three starts.

2011 Season: "Tebow Time"

Tebow playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2012

Tebow started the 2011 season as a backup. But after the Broncos struggled, he became the starting quarterback. He led many exciting comeback wins. In one game, he helped the team win from a 15–0 deficit in the last three minutes!

His amazing comebacks made him a national sensation. People called it "Tebow Time." He led the Broncos to a division title and a playoff spot.

In the playoffs, the Broncos played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tebow threw for a career-high 316 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the game! Many people noticed that his passing yards (316) and yards per completion (31.6) reminded them of the Bible verse John 3:16.

The next week, the Broncos lost to the New England Patriots. After the season, some people still questioned if Tebow could be a long-term NFL quarterback because of his passing accuracy.

New York Jets

In 2012, the Broncos traded Tebow to the New York Jets. He was mostly a backup quarterback and also played on special teams. Fans and media often wanted him to start over the main quarterback, Mark Sanchez.

Tebow got injured with two broken ribs but still tried to play. He was released by the Jets in April 2013. He had thrown only eight passes in his one season with the team.

New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles

Tebow signed with the New England Patriots in 2013. He played in some preseason games but was released before the regular season started. He publicly thanked the Patriots and said he would keep trying to be an NFL quarterback.

In 2015, Tebow signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in all four preseason games. But he was released again before the regular season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2021, after six years away from football, Tebow returned to the NFL. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a tight end. His former college coach, Urban Meyer, was the Jaguars' coach. However, Tebow was released by the Jaguars in August 2021 after playing in one preseason game.

NFL Career Statistics

Playoffs

Media and Culture

Tim Tebow's football career and strong Christian faith made him a "cultural phenomenon." He was featured in documentaries and wrote an autobiography called Through My Eyes. This book was a New York Times best seller.

He has also been a spokesperson for big brands like Nike and TiVo. In 2016, he competed on the TV show Lip Sync Battle and won!

Broadcasting Career

In December 2013, Tebow started working for ESPN as a college football analyst. He often appears on the SEC Network as a co-host for SEC Nation. His contract allowed him to keep trying to play professional sports.

He also co-hosted ABC News' Good Morning America and hosted two reality TV shows: Home Free and Million Dollar Mile. In 2021, he joined the talk show First Take.

Professional Baseball Career

Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow getting ready for a hit in 2017
Left fielder
Batted: Left Threw: Left
debut
April 6, 2017, for the Columbia Fireflies
Last appearance
July 21, 2019, for the Syracuse Mets
MILB statistics
Batting average	.223
Hits	210
Home runs	18
Runs batted in	107
Teams
Columbia Fireflies (2017) St. Lucie Mets (2017) Binghamton Rumble Ponies (2018) Syracuse Mets (2019)

In August 2016, Tebow announced he wanted to play professional baseball. He had not played baseball full-time since high school. He invited all 30 Major League Baseball teams to watch him try out.

New York Mets

Tebow speaking with Mets manager Terry Collins, March 2017

On September 8, 2016, Tebow signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. In his very first at bat with the team, he hit a home run!

He played for several Mets minor league teams. He hit a home run in his first game for the Columbia Fireflies and the St. Lucie Mets. When Tebow played, the attendance at games often increased.

Tebow with Binghamton, June 2018

In 2018, the Mets promoted Tebow to their Double-A team, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He hit another home run in his first at bat for this team. He was even named to the Eastern League All-Star Game. However, he broke a bone in his hand and missed the rest of the season.

Tebow during spring training with the Mets, February 2019

In 2019, Tebow played for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He had his best performance as a professional baseball player, hitting three home runs in six games. But he injured his finger and missed the rest of that season too.

In February 2021, Tebow announced he was retiring from professional baseball.

Career Statistics

Sports Team Ownership

In 2023, Tim Tebow became a co-owner of a new hockey team called the Tahoe Knight Monsters. This team is part of the ECHL league. He is also an investor in a soccer club called Sporting Club Jacksonville.

"Tebowing"

Tebow kneeling in prayer, which has since been referred to as "Tebowing"

"Tebowing" is a word that describes kneeling on one knee in prayer, with your head bowed and an arm resting on your bent knee. It comes from Tim Tebow's habit of doing this during football games.

A fan named Jared Kleinstein created a website where people could share pictures of themselves "Tebowing." The site became very popular, with millions of views. It showed how much of a cultural impact Tebow had.

Tebow was even given the trademark for the word "Tebowing" after a legal battle. "Tebowing" was also included as a feature in the Madden NFL 13 video game.

Personal Life and Faith

On January 10, 2019, Tim Tebow announced he was engaged to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who was Miss Universe 2017. They got married in South Africa in January 2020. In January 2025, they announced they are expecting their first baby.

Tebow and his wife with Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife in 2024

Tebow was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Christianity and Philanthropy

Tebow is well known for his strong Christian faith. When he was young, he preached and helped with medical care in the Philippines. He supports many people who share Christian messages in that country. In the United States, he has shared his faith in prisons, schools, and churches.

He started the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2010. This foundation helps many people. One of its projects is the Tebow CURE Hospital in the Philippines. This hospital helps children with physical problems that can be fixed with surgery. The hospital also has a special "Timmy's Playroom" for kids.

The Tim Tebow Foundation also hosts "Night to Shine." This is a special prom night for people with special needs, giving them a safe and fun place to celebrate.

Images for kids

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  Tebow at the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl

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  Tebow (on right, #15), Cam Newton (on far left, #13) and other Gator QBs during pre-game warm-ups

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  Tim Tebow in 2007